Redding, CA

Hosted by Shasta Historical Society

October 15-17, 2015

For those of you that may not have attended, we can say it was a great time for those who did. The CCHS Fall Symposium was an unparalleled opportunity to explore the incredible natural, architectural and historical wonders of Shasta County, hosted by the Shasta Historical Society! The Program highlights included on Friday, October 16th, a behind the scenes access to many of Redding’s historical landmarks with a tour from key personnel at each location, a curator led tour of Redding’s famous Turtle Bay Exploration Park, and on Saturday, October 17th, a peek into historic Fort Crook in Fall River Mills and a Ranger led tour of United States’ “Eighth Wonder of the World”: Burney Falls.

It was another opportunity to see great historic sites, network with fellow knowledgeable historians and take back effective strategies for our historical societies!

A few of the special activities during the Symposium included on Thursday, October 15th, an opening wine reception at the Shasta Historical Society; on Friday, a Behrens-Easton House Museum Tour; and on Saturday, an all you can eat, family style deli lunch in Fall River Mills, and a locally provided tour of the rural community of Shingletown and BBQ Dinner provided by the Shingletown Historical Society.

The all important business of the Conference was performed on Thursday, with the Regional Vice-Presidents' meeting - the highlight being a discussion about "How to Engage Young People in Your Organization" and on Saturday, with the Board of Directors' meeting - highlights being the financial statement of the CCHS, an approval of the proposed amendment of the Bylaws Article XIII, Sec. 13.02 with the added language "...or at a special membership meeting, providing written notice to amend the Bylaws is given to the membership at least twenty one (21) days prior to such a meeting.", and the Planning Meeting progress reports including Membership Campaign, Strategic Partnerships, Workshops, Knowledge Base, Symposiums, Annual Meeting, Historian, Needs Assessment, Audience Development, and the RVP Program.

Meet fellow historical societies and museums from across the state and learn about their region’s local history and most exciting projects. Meet local authors and publishing companies and purchase some of the great publications from and about California. Even better, become an exhibitor yourself and share all that your historical society has to offer! Exhibitor booths (which include a 6 foot table and 2 chairs) are complimentary.

Online registration for the History Fair is now closed. To inquire about registering as an exhibitor, contact Lupine Reppert: (310) 980-7002.

Hear from experts in the field on fascinating historical topics and gain new strategies and tools to help you with the “nuts and bolts” of running your historical society. Follow the History Track or the Skills Track, based on your preferences and needs. Or, mix and match, based on your interests.

Did you ever wonder what it was like to be in the largest known earthquake unleashed on the Hayward Fault? Explore first-hand accounts of people who lived through the October 21, 1868 Hayward Fault Earthquake. The severity of the damage will haunt you: Fissures opened in the earth, beds flew from one side of a room to the other and back, people in some locations fell and were unable to rise for the duration of the quake. Damage and deaths occurred around the bay. Photos, illustrations and newspapers will illuminate the history in the Bay Area before, during, and after the event and reveal the cultural changes that occurred because of this quake.

Mounting an exhibition can be a daunting task. However, it can also be a rewarding way to increase awareness of your group’s identity and collections. This session will provide a very broad overview of the exhibition planning and management process, from conceptualization, to creation, to evaluation. Attendees will leave with a list of available resources and a renewed interest in exhibiting their group’s artifacts and documents.

Thinking Like an Archivist Part I: Where Should We Start?Lauren Lassleben, Archivist, The Bancroft Library

This session will cover such topics as establishing an archival collecting policy for your institution, surveying records in the field, donor relations, the importance of using deeds of gift, gaining intellectual and physical control of new collections, how to handle various record formats, the difference between organizational records and personal papers, and what basic record-keeping procedures are needed when a collection is received.

1:45pm - 3:00pm

San Francisco's Landmarks - The Real History RevealedCatherine Accardi, Author and Historian

This will not be the traditional story of San Francisco’s city, state, and national landmarks. Of course, San Francisco is one of the most recognized and beloved cities in the United States, and is a city brilliantly illustrated through a visual history of over 400 designated landmarks. However, there are many hidden tales behind some of these landmarks, including fascinating urban legends and intriguing secrets, all waiting to be told. Using over 150 historic, vintage images of San Francisco landmarks from private collections and local and national archives, explore the back stories that will make San Francisco even more intriguing!

Thinking Like an Archivist: What Are the Next Steps?Lauren Lassleben, Archivist, The Bancroft Library

This session will include such topics as establishing archival storage and work space, buying and using archival storage supplies, doing initial research before working on a collection, various levels of archival processing, the minimal amount of processing needed before a collection can be opened for research, some strategies for dealing with an archival backlog, preservation issues, potential privacy issues and restrictions, and archival ethics.

This session will address how to research history utilizing old newspapers as primary source materials. Learn how to perform the research, how to quickly navigate a particular newspaper, how to organize your finds, document them, and use your research time efficiently. Explore the great values of using information found in newspapers as well as any possible suspect aspects of this material. Address both the minute information and the many unconscious cultural traits that can be gleaned from a newspaper and the surprise wells of information that can be found by accident. Learn how information and reporting met the needs of the reader and newspaper companies of the day and how those needs have changed over time - as well as how newspaper research methods have dramatically changed over the past twenty years.

The Anza Trail commemorates, protects, marks, and interprets the route of the Anza Expedition of 1775-76, which established San Francisco and accelerated the colonization of California. The Anza Trail provides an excellent opportunity for local historical societies to convey the quintessentially American story of migration, diversity, family, sacrifice, and change set in the historical setting of Spanish California. Communities along the 1,200 mile historic trail corridor share the story uniquely, such as the final destination of the expedition, the Presidio of San Francisco, which interprets the trail in exhibits and through programming along the recreational trail. This session will highlight ways to share the story of the Anza Trail and feature this history in local communities as well as share examples of successful trail interpretation.

Following good governance principles greatly enhances the effectiveness of a board. Learn about basic board responsibilities, the role of individual board members and how a typical non-profit board should be organized and structured. Identify techniques for preparing an agenda for a board meeting as well as how to conduct the meeting so that the essential topics are covered efficiently and in a reasonable period of time. Examples of interesting, real-life board practices will be discussed which have been successful – or problematic – in a variety of actual organizations.

Volunteers in Time: Oral History and Community InvolvementTom Zamaria, Martinez Historical Society

Explore the Martinez Oral History Project and learn about its origin, objectives and procedures. As a small local historical society, the budget for the Martinez Oral History Project was limited - learn how the engagement of volunteers, members and the community helped to bring the project alive (despite a small budget), and assisted in capturing Martinez's rich local history.

3:30pm - 4:45pm

FDR's New Deal Projects in Berkeley and BeyondHarvey Smith, President, National New Deal Preservation Association

Like the heritage of the New Deal throughout the United States, Berkeley’s 1930s and early 1940s New Deal structures and projects left a lasting legacy of utilitarian and beautiful infrastructure. These public buildings, schools, parks, and artworks helped shape the city and thus the lives of its residents; it is hard to imagine Berkeley without them. The artists and architects of these projects mention several themes: working for the community, responsibility, the importance of government support, collaboration, and creating a cultural renaissance. These New Deal projects, however, can be called “hidden history” because their legacies have been mostly ignored and forgotten. Comprehending the impact of the New Deal on one American city is only possible when viewed within the context of the nationwide achievements of the FDR administration. More than history, this period is relevant to today’s social, political, and economic realities. The times may again call for comprehensive public policy that reaches Main Street.

Dealing with Fire Marshals, Building Officials and the Historic Building CodeRobert Marshall, Fire Marshal, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

Learn about the California historic building code and how it is applied by local building and fire officials. Get tips on how to communicate with code officials, how to accomplish the things you would like to accomplish while being code compliant, as well as how to appeal decisions by code officials.

The State of Historical SocietiesJohn Lenau, President and Ben Wirick, Administrator, Conference of California Historical Societies

Explore the State of Historical Societies Report to identify how historical societies are performing statewide, from small, volunteer-led historical societies, to large million dollar organizations. Discuss the implications of the report's findings and identify specific recommendations that can help your historical society grow in the coming years.

In the mood to explore? Historical Excursions are a perfect way to explore San Francisco – with a historian’s touch – giving you behind the scenes access to some of the most exciting places in the city! Whether you’re touring the stacks of the California Historical Society or looking over the shoulder of an archaeologist at the Presidio, you’ll have a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can’t be found anywhere else. Transportation is included in each Excursion, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the day in beautiful San Francisco! An additional cost applies for the Historical Excursions – be sure to select your preferred Excursion(s) upon registration – space is limited.

Long before there was the city of San Francisco, there was the Presidio of San Francisco. First established in 1776, the adobe walls of the Officers’ Club stand testament to California’s beginnings. Throughout the 20th century, the renowned Presidio Officers’ Club was a gathering place for Army brass and their families. Today, this beloved institution has been transformed into a multi-faceted cultural destination. The Officers’ Club features exceptional exhibits inspired by the Presidio’s role in shaping California: explore the many permanent and special exhibits, including a special visit to the Archeology Lab, where participants will experience this active research center where the Presidio’s artifacts are identified, analyzed and curated.

Visit the California Historical Society (CHS) for a curator-led tour of the special exhibit: City Rising: San Francisco and the 1915 World’s Fair, presented in celebration of the Fair’s centennial anniversary. The 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE)—a world's fair commemorating the opening of the Panama Canal just nine years after the devastating earthquake and fires of 1906—emerged on 635 acres of land previously submerged by water. The fair featured eleven exhibition palaces showcasing objects from every corner of the globe, more than 1,500 sculptures commissioned from artists all over the world, 65 acres of amusement concessions, and an aviation field. Then, after the fair closed, this ephemeral city was all but erased from the landscape.

After the PPIE exhibit, participants will get a special guided tour of the CHS stacks, giving participants a chance to take a peek into the operations of CHS and to explore some of the extra special items curated by the Society (and unavailable to the public).

Join us as we celebrate the accomplisments of historians and historical institutions throughout the state that have made an impact on the preservation of California history and/or the work of the Conference of California Historical Societies.

What's better than reading a great book? Discussing it with other history enthusiasts of course! Here's your chance: read one or both of the books below and be ready to have a facilitated discussion of the books during the CCHS Annual Meeting! Both books are available on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble.

Synopsis: Juana Briones de Miranda lived an unusual life, which is wonderfully recounted in this highly accessible biography. She was one of the first residents of what is now San Francisco, then named Yerba Buena (Good Herb), reportedly after a medicinal tea she concocted. She was among the few women in California of her time to own property in her own name, and she proved to be a skilled farmer, rancher, and businesswoman. In retelling her life story, Jeanne Farr McDonnell also retells the history of nineteenth-century California from the unique perspective of this surprising woman.

Saturday Book Club

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James BrownSaturday, 5:00pm-6:00pmBuy on Amazon

Synopsis: It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys’ own journals and vivid memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man’s personal quest.

Designed for board members, staff and leaders in historical societies, this facilitated discussion will explore the many challenges faced by leaders of historical societies, providing a forum to share resources and ideas and explore solutions for long-time challenges. BYOB (Bring your own breakfast)!

Genealogy CaféSaturday, 9am-9:45am

Interested in genealogy? This roundtable discussion, facilitated by an experienced genealogist, will give participants, experienced and new to genealogy, the chance to talk about the topics they’re most interested in, share ideas and get questions answered. BYOB (Bring your own breakfast)!

Celebrating the 100 Year Anniversary of The Panama-Pacific International ExpositionGeneral Session, Friday, 9am-10:15am

Laura Ackley is an architectural historian and digital visualization professional and a recognized authority on the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE). After earning a master's degree in Architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, she decided to return to UC Berkeley to conduct research on the PPIE at the Bancroft Library, which holds the original records of the fair in its collections. Laura earned a Master of Science in Architecture History/Theory with a thesis entitled "Illuminating the Jewel City: Spectacular Lighting at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.” She also published the book San Francisco’s Jewel City: The Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915 in October of 2014.

Jeanne Farr McDonnell

Cultural History Sparkles Friday Dinner, 6pm-8:30pm

Jeanne Farr McDonnell is the author of the highly acclaimed book Juana Briones of Nineteenth-Century California. As Founder and Executive Director of the Women's Heritage Museum in the 1980s, Jeanne learned about the home of Juana Briones in Palo Alto and arranged with the resident owner for regular public and school tours. This experience sparked Jeanne's interest in the life of Juana Briones and was a catalyst for Jeanne writing the biographical book about this interesting woman. A previous nonprofit job with Nature Explorations also gave her environmental knowledge that was helpful in her writing. Jeanne was a Fulbright Scholar in comparative literature at the University of Brussels and has an M.A. in American literature from Columbia.

Join us for an unforgettable culinary and cultural experience at the San Francisco Basque Cultural Center. Enjoy a traditional Basque dinner while learning about the culture and history of Basques in the San Francisco area as well as how the Basque Cultural Center came to be.

Complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport, the SFO BART Station (San Francisco's subway) and downtown Burlingame. More information.

Note: breakfast is not included with hotel room reservation. There is an on-site restaurant that offers breakfast.

Reservations

To book a room and receive the special conference rate, call (877) 252-1558 and tell the representative that you're attending the CCHS Annual Meeting or BOOK ONLINE.

Important Booking Information

All reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card.

Cancellations: If a guest does not cancel an unused reservation at least 24 hours before their check-in date, the Hotel may charge the guest's credit card for one night's room fee plus any applicable taxes.

All sleeping rooms are subject to an Early Departure Fee, equal to one night's room rate, plus applicable fees, taxes and assessments.

This year's Annual Meeting will be filled with a range of opportunities to network, learn and exchange ideas. Each day, you'll have the option to choose to participate in on-site activities (included in the Base Registration Rate), including workshops, roundtable discussions (called "Cafes") and book clubs. You'll also have the opportunity each day to choose to go off-site for a Historical Excursion, at an additional cost, to explore some of the best historical sites in the San Francisco area. To learn more about a specific aspect of the Annual Meeting program, click the links below.